Consultant for development of chemsex service design

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PATH is a global nonprofit dedicated to achieving health equity. With more than 40 years of experience forging multisector partnerships and with expertise in science, economics, technology, advocacy, and dozens of other specialties, PATH develops and scales up innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing heath challenges.

PATH has an office established in Myanmar in late 2013. The PATH Myanmar Country Program is currently implementing a broad portfolio of activities on a range of health issues including infectious diseases, nutrition, vaccines, and immunization systems strengthening, digital health and sexual and reproductive health.

PATH In coordination with WHO, PATH will develop chemsex service design and training modules to provide tailored comprehensive service and train provider associated with chemsex against the backdrop of existing HIV prevention and other health program in the country. It also aims to understand the landscape of HIV and other interventions tailored for people who engage in chemsex. For this project, PATH is seeking a consultant with substantial capacity and technical experience in research and/or programming related to drug use and sexual behavior within the context of HIV programming. The ideal candidates will also have demonstrated skills in program design, training module development, as well as qualitative research and analytical methods.

General objective

To reduce health-related risks among people who engage in chemsex/sexualized drug use, with special attention to key populations.

Specific objective

Objective 1: Recommend program design adaptations to existing HIV interventions to meet health-related needs of people who engage in chemsex.

Output 1.1: Desk review of existing national- and partner-level HIV prevention, sexual health, and harm reduction-related service guidelines, processes, and tools.

Output 1.2: Workshop to outline recommendations for adaptations to existing HIV prevention, sexual health, and harm reduction programming to better integrate and address chemsex-related requirements.

Objective 2: Build capacity of implementing partners on chemsex.

Output 2.1: Draft add-on training modules on chemsex and chemsex-related programming needs.

Output 2.2: Finalized training modules addressing stakeholder review and feedback of draft

Consultant detailed activities

The Consultant will work in close collaboration with PATH team to develop chemsex service design and will be responsible for completing the following activities:

Development of chemsex service design

1.1 Desk review

The consultant will conduct a desk review of relevant guidelines, standard operating procedures, trainings, and tools to understand existing HIV, sexual health, harm reduction and other interventions focused on people who engage in chemsex being implemented in Myanmar and landscape effective interventions for people who engage in chemsex globally, with a focus on the broader Southeast Asia region. This desk review will inform development of the agenda and discussion topics for the in-person workshop (Activity 1.2).

The consultant will consult the following documents (and others as identified during the desk review):

• National and implementing partner HIV and harm reduction service delivery implementation guidelines and workplans.

• National guidelines, including HIV National Strategic Plan IV.

• Strategies of major HIV donors in Myanmar (U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, including the Asia Regional Operating Plan; The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, etc.)

• Myanmar Integrated Biological and Behavioral Survey

• 2019 online survey results on HIV-associated Risk Behavior among MSM (including young MSM)

• David Stuart’s Chemsex Toolkit

• Chemsex in Asia: A Community Manual on Sexualised Substance Use among MSM

• WHO/PATH-developed Rapid assessment of the chemsex situation in Myanmar

• Chemsex, MSM, and the HIV Cascade- A Guide for Program Planners in Key Population-led HIV/Sexual Health Programs in Southeast Asia

• Other relevant studies on chemsex programming and interventions in formal and grey (conference) literature.

1.2 In-person stakeholder consultation workshop

Following desk review, the consultant will facilitate an in-person one-day stakeholder consultation workshop: Expected meeting outputs will be:

• To landscape existing interventions and programming catering to needs and service requirements of people who engage in chemsex among key population including young people, with an additional focus on MSM;

• To identify service gaps as well as technical and capacity needs ad outline factors influencing the enabling environment that lead to challenges providing needed services to people who engage in chemsex;

• To highlight opportunities where programming adaptations and interventions can be feasibly integrated to improve service delivery and meet harm reduction and health-related needs for people who engage in chemsex.

PATH anticipates inviting 40 participants in the workshop, comprising representatives from National AIDS programme, technical support partners and funders (the United Nations (United Nations Population Fund, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime), USAID, GFATM, WHO, ICAP, FHI 360, CPI, Population Services International, Marie Stopes Myanmar, and Plan International Myanmar), local implementing partners and community-led organizations (Medical Action Myanmar, Lan Pya Kyel, Asian Harm Reduction Network, Aye Nyein Metta, Best Shelter, Drug Users Network, Lotus, Myanmar MSM and Transgender Woman Network, Myanmar Youth Stars, SWIM), lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights organizations and youth organizations (Colors Rainbow, Kings N Queens, Tri, and Myanmar Medical Association).

The consultant will pull together a summary report synthesizing workshop discussions in the following areas:

• Existing interventions and programming for people who engage in chemsex, including KPs and MSM;

• Service gaps and needs of people who engage in chemsex, disaggregated by population (KP type; youth);

• Challenges and barriers impeding effective implementation of chemsex interventions;

• Prioritized recommendations for adapting existing interventions or integrating add-on programming to improve service delivery and meet health-related needs of people who engage in chemsex, disaggregated by actions that can be implemented by different levels of stakeholders (e.g., policy makers, implementing partners, community-based organizations, civil society).

• Chemsex service design into local context

Activities and Deliverables

• Conducting Desk review outline detailed in activity 1.1 for development of inception report

• Conducting in-person stakeholder consultation workshop outline detailed in activity1.2 for development of detail workshop report.

Required skills and experiences

The consultant must have the following requirements:

• A minimum of a master’s degree or higher in public health, MSc epidemiology or related fields

• A minimum of ten years of relevant working experiences in public health, of which six years in HIV field

• Demonstrated strong understanding of recent innovations in HIV programming.

• Previous experience in designing and integrating HIV-related programs and services.

• Demonstrated ability to work with partners and stakeholders to deliver high quality project results.

• Proven interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team.

• Excellent written and oral Myanmar and English.

• Strong computer skills, especially with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

• Must have legal authorization to work in Myanmar.

Location: Remote

Division: Infectious Diseases, Myanmar Country Program

Duration: 14 days

PATH is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued.

PATH is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment.

PATH does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, caste, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, age, national origin, marital status, disability status, political ideology, military or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.